Need help navigating Bristol’s independent food scene?

Bristol has its fair share of cult-followed eateries. The kind that are at the top of your hit list every time a friend asks “Fancy a takeaway?”. In fact, independent restaurants are a part of Bristol’s very soul, and a defining subculture of the city’s personality.

You won’t be shocked to hear, then, that Bristol has been described as the UK’s subculture capital – from street art and music, to the indy foodie hotspots we know and love. Bristolians’ evergrowing love for local is a force to be reckoned with.

It can make it hard to choose your next lunch spot, but Deliveroo has teamed up with Upfest, the Europe’s largest street art festival, to bring you fresh recommendations each week.

The reason for such a unique collaboration? Well, the coming together of food and art are like two of the puzzle pieces that make up Bristol culture. Deliveroo jumped on the opportunity to spread the indie love through a set of artworks created by local artists, and a huge mural on Wine Street depicting 10 of the city’s favourite independent eateries.

A Bristol Indy institution: Biblos

One key subculture in Bristol, and particularly prevalent in Stokes Croft, is the Caribbean and Middle Eastern influence on food. You can spot colourful market stalls and rum bars, amongst which you can find the restaurant we’re spotlighting today – a Bristol Favourite: Biblos.

Offering a fast-food fusion of Caribbean and Middle Eastern cuisine, Biblos is well known by locals for its  famous flatbread sandwich wraps, and has earned itself a legion of fans across the city.

The business’ two sites in Stokes Croft and St Werburgh’s are run by owners Ariel Czaczkes & William Clarke. The duo founded the original restaurant in Stokes Croft back in 2010, with the simple mission of serving healthy and tasty fast food.

The originally Greek ‘Byblos’ is the name for a city in Lebanon, a nod to its Middle Eastern roots.

Get to know the artist: Dave McMillan

As part of Deliveroo’s partnership with Upfest, Biblos’ artwork has come from a colourful collaboration between the restaurant’s history, influence, and ethos and the talented illustrator and muralist, Dave McMillan.

Originally from Northern Ireland but now living and working in central Bristol, Dave’s work focuses on bold, silly, and colourful characters. Talking about the creativity behind his piece, he said: “As my studio is up behind Stokes Croft, Biblos has been a consistent lunch spot for me for many years, and I wanted to show all the reasons why it’s the best spot for a bite.”

“The nightlife, Turbo Island, Jeff the big issue seller, the people, and even the seagulls are all part of what makes Stokes Croft special.”

Dave’s interpretation of Biblos can be spotted across the city centre on display, have you caught a glimpse yet?

If you’re looking to check out some more of Bristol’s independents, click here to discover more of the tasty options Deliveroo has to offer.